For the Cashier Who Left Me Totally Wordless – Kudos to You
It was a Sunday morning, and I found myself in a foul mood, refueling my mum’s car. The location was a typical gas station that also functions as a supermarket, which often leads of waiting behind people bearing baskets of slightly overpriced groceries. This is a dreadful thing to unfold when the sole aim is to pay for some fuel. Dreadful.
I was fourth in the queue. A single cashier operating, a young woman. There was something unusual about her. After the ditherer at the first position had at last settled for his purchases, his sausage roll, and a carton of eggs, It seemed to me overhearing the cashier wish him an excellent day. Strange. Could be I misunderstood, or perhaps she spoke and meant it ironically. I wondered if she could even be a comrade in my battle with dithering, sharing my contempt for people who hold up simple fuel-buyers like me.
Advancing next, to third in the queue. The person ahead of our line completed her gasoline purchase with impressive quickness. And there it was again: “I hope you have a fantastic day.” To be precise, it was “enjoy a truly great day”. An American? Here in Stourbridge? She had the accent, and no British person tells people those exact words, or merely a pleasant day. Highly unusual. You don’t get many Americans frequenting this area, and definitely not employed at gas stations or elsewhere.
Second in line at last. Behind a poor older woman dealing with a right old battle with her carryall, her groceries, her handbag and her membership pass. The process dragged on. After she finished, she as well was wished to have a fantastic day. Definitely from the US. I might have verified it by cracking a joke to her, to see if she did that response their typical stare, unsmilingly, and say with absolute sincerity: “You are very amusing.” But I couldn’t think of anything hilarious to say.
I just had to settle the heartfelt tone – or a performance of it, which amounts to the same thing – with which she looked directly into my eyes, to my very core, and told me a wonderful day. My spirits lifted. Beneficial indeed.